Editor’s note: On Sunday, July 5th, President Elect Zelaya unsuccessfully attempted to fly back to the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa and was denied a landing attempt by authorities. He has since spoken about his continuous pursuit to come back to Honduras where many government officials are opposed to his return.
WOLA condemns the coup carried out (Sunday, June 28th) against Jose Manuel Zelaya, the elected President of Honduras. WOLA is pleased that the international community has united in condemning the coup and in calling for the return of President Zelaya and the restoration of a constitutional process. While pressure builds on those who initiated and supported the coup, WOLA expresses concern about the safety of civil society leaders – trade union and campesino activists, opposition politicians, and others.
“There was a serious political disagreement between President Zelaya, the Congress, and the Supreme Court in Honduras. Instead of resolving the conflict through dialogue, or established political channels, the military was sent to his house, he was forcibly removed, and flown out of the country. This de facto coup should be reversed,” said Joy Olson, Executive Director of the Washington Office on Latin America, who lived in Honduras for a number of years.
“WOLA is pleased to see the united response from the international community. Governments across the political spectrum have condemned the coup, and joined together in calling for Zelaya’s return. The entire region has opposed the coup, meaning that the U.S., Brazil, Venezuela, and Ecuador are all on the same page,” said Olson. “What this shows is that the issue isn’t about Venezuela, or about the United States. It’s about democracy and the rule of law.”
President Zelaya’s return will not, by itself, solve the political crisis in Honduras. Dialogue will be needed to resolve conflicts over whether and how to ...